Method for operating portable terminal to reduce power during support of communication service and portable terminal supporting the same

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a portable terminal so as to reduce power consumption during the support of a communication service and a portable terminal supporting the same is provided. The method includes activating a Radio Frequency (RF) communication unit, downloading a part of data of predetermined contents through the RF communication unit, buffering the downloaded part of the data in a buffer so as to output the buffered downloaded part of the data, and executing an idle time for terminating or reducing a power supply of the RF communication unit when the downloading of the part of the data of the predetermined contents is completed.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of a prior application Ser. No.13/439,208 filed Apr. 4, 2012, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C.§119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Apr. 5, 2011 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No.10-2011-0031385, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable terminal. More particularly,the present invention relates to a method for operating a portableterminal so as to reduce power during the support of a communicationservice and a portable terminal supporting the same, which providessupport during a communication service such that a reduction of currentpower consumption may reduce power consumed according to the operationof a portable terminal by more efficiently operating a power supplywhile the portable terminal supports a communication service.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rapid development of communication technology, a portableterminal has various functions including a video phone call function, anelectronic organizer function, an interne function, a multimediafunction, a data communication function, and the like, as well as avoice phone call function and a short message transmission function.Also, the portable terminal uses hardware and software to supportvarious functions provided by the portable terminal. Namely, arelated-art portable terminal provides support for the functions usingthe hardware and software in order to enable the execution of variousapplication programs by hardware having a high processing capability.

However, a large amount of power is consumed by a portable terminalproviding a multimedia player function having complicated functionsincluding the capture of a still image or a moving image, thereproduction of a music file or a moving image file, a game, thereception of a broadcast, or other similar functions. Particularly, therelated-art portable terminal consumes more power while supporting adata communication function as well as a phone call function. However,in order for the portable terminal to be mobile or portable, power froma portable and limited power supply, such as a battery, is provided, andthus the portable terminal has a limited use power supply. Therefore,there is a need for more efficiently operating the functions of theportable terminal even in an environment where the portable terminal hasa limit on using a power supply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a method for operating a portable terminal so asto reduce power during the support of a communication service and aportable terminal supporting the same, which provides support such thatpower consumption can be effectively reduced by more efficientlyoperating the portable terminal while the portable terminal supports acommunication service.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method foroperating a portable terminal to reduce power consumed during support ofa communication service is provided. The method includes activating aRadio Frequency (RF) communication unit, downloading a part of data ofpredetermined content through the RF communication unit, buffering thedownloaded part of the data in a buffer so as to output the buffereddownloaded part of the data, and executing an idle time for terminatingor reducing a power supply of the RF communication unit when thedownloading of the part of the data of the predetermined contents iscompleted.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a portableterminal for reducing power consumed during support of a communicationservice is provided. The portable terminal includes a Radio Frequency(RF) communication unit for downloading a part of data of apredetermined size of contents transmitted through a data communicationchannel, a buffer for buffering the part of the data for a predeterminedtime, and a controller for controlling the buffering of the part of thedata and outputting the buffered part of the data, for terminating orreducing a power supply of the RF communication unit in a powerreduction mode such that the RF communication unit has an idle time whenthe downloading of the part of the data is terminated.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a systemfor providing a communication service according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controlleraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of a buffer of a portable terminal inan execution of a power reduction mode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a portableterminal so as to reduce power during a communication service accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a systemfor providing a communication service according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for providing a communication servicein a power reduction mode may include a server apparatus 200 forsupporting a communication service, and a portable terminal 100 which isconnected to the server apparatus 200 and uses a communication serviceprovided by the server apparatus 200.

The system 10 supports the establishment of a communication channel,particularly a data communication channel, between the portable terminal100 and the server apparatus 200, and provides support such thatparticular data stored in the server apparatus 200 may be transmitted toportable terminal 100 at a request of the portable terminal 100. To thisend, the portable terminal 100 may connect to and communicate with theserver apparatus 200 under the control of a user or according to presetschedule information, and may download particular data provided by theserver apparatus 200.

Particularly, the portable terminal 100 may receive data using astreaming service or a progressive download service depending on whetherthe server apparatus 200 provides the data as a streaming service or aprogressive download service. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and any suitable service for transmitting theparticular data may be used. The portable terminal 100 receives the dataprovided by the server apparatus 200 and may display the received dataon a display unit 140. In such a case, the portable terminal 100receives the data using a data communication channel between theportable terminal 100 and the server apparatus 200, and the reception ofthe data may be adjusted according to a storage capacity of a buffer(not shown) or a storage unit (not shown) for storing received data onthe portable terminal 100.

In order to use the data communication channel, the portable terminal100 may include a communication modem, which may be referred to as a“Radio Frequency (RF) communication unit” herein. Meanwhile, theportable terminal 100 supports a power reduction mode in which a wake-uptime period and a dormant time period for the RF communication unit arealternately operated according to an amount of data remaining in abuffer that is to be displayed on the display unit 140. For example, inthe portable terminal 100, the RF communication unit is operated whendownloading data using a data communication channel, whereas theoperation of the RF communication unit is stopped for a predeterminedtime period for completing the downloading. Accordingly, an amount ofpower consumed for operating the RF communication unit may be reduced.Also, the portable terminal 100 may reduce power consumption andprocessing operations due to an unnecessary communication mode change bydetermining whether the power reduction mode is applied to the RFcommunication unit or by maintaining a communication mode according to astate of a RF environment. Furthermore, the portable terminal 100 mayprovide a more stable supply of power during operation of the powerreduction mode.

Although in the above description, the portable terminal 100 has beendescribed as receiving data via a communication channel with the serverapparatus 200, the present invention is not limited thereto. Namely, theportable terminal 100 may establish a data communication channel betweenitself and other suitable communication devices, such as anotherportable terminal or similar communication devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal 100 may include a RFcommunication unit 110, an input unit 120, an audio processor 130, adisplay unit 140, a memory 150, a power supply 170, and a controller160. Also, the portable terminal 100 may additionally include astabilizer 171 and a switch 173 so that the power supply 170 may stablysupply power to elements of the portable terminal 100.

The portable terminal 100 adjusts a wake-up time period and a dormanttime period for the RF communication unit 110 according to an amount ofdata remaining in a buffer that stores data received by the portableterminal 100 during operation of the RF communication unit 110. Theportable terminal 100 may reduce power used to operate the RFcommunication unit 110 according to the adjusting of the wake-up timeperiod and the dormant time period. In the case where a dormant timeperiod is enabled based on the amount of data remaining in the buffer,the portable terminal 100 may output data stored in the buffer to thedisplay unit 140.

Namely, in a case where a data download speed of the portable terminal100 is faster than a data output speed of the portable terminal 100, theamount of remaining data for a seamless or uninterrupted output of datamay be determined in consideration of an output speed of data stored inthe buffer. In a case where the data download speed is approximatelyequal to a data output speed or is less than a predetermined value, acontrol operation of the portable terminal 100 may be performed so thatthe power reduction mode is not applied to the portable terminal 100,and a normal power mode, as described below, may be operated.

Also, the portable terminal 100 determines whether the power reductionmode is operated or executed according to a RF environment. When thepower reduction mode is executed, the portable terminal 100 may adjust avalue, which has been set for the buffer according to the RFenvironment, in order to adjust the execution of the power reductionmode. Hereinafter, a more detailed description will be made of afunction and an operation of each element for supporting the powerreduction mode in the portable terminal 100. In the description below,the buffer is included in the controller 160. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and the buffer may be arranged in theRF communication unit 110 or may be included in the portable terminal100 in a variety of suitable manners.

The RF communication unit 110 forms communication channels for voicecalls, video phone calls, for transmitting data such as images ormessages, or for any other similar communication operation under thecontrol of the controller 160. Although not shown, the RF communicationunit 110 may include a RF transmitter for up-converting a frequency of atransmitted signal and amplifying the signal and a RF receiver forlow-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the signal.Particularly, the RF communication unit 110 may establish a datacommunication channel between itself and the server apparatus 200, orany other similar communication device, according to the control of thecontroller 160, so as to receive data corresponding to particularcontents, which is provided by the server apparatus 200 in a streamingscheme or in a progressive scheme through the data communication channelaccording to a user's request or the like, and then may provide thereceived data to the controller 160.

According to the control of the controller 160, after receiving a partof the total data of the particular contents, the RF communication unit110 may have a dormant time period for a predetermined time period.Then, according to the control of the controller 160, the RFcommunication unit 110 may have a wake-up time period after completingthe dormant time period. For the wake-up time period, the RFcommunication unit 110 may continuously receive another part of thetotal data following the part of the total data that has previously beenreceived, and may deliver the other received part of the total data tothe controller 160. After completing the reception of the other data,the RF communication unit 110 may again have a dormant time periodaccording to the control of the controller 160.

The input unit 120 may include a plurality of input keys and functionkeys for receiving input of numeral or character information and forsetting various functions. The function keys may include an arrow key, aside key, and a hot key set to perform certain functions. Furthermore,the input unit 120 generates a key signal associated with user settingand function control of the portable terminal 100. The input unit 120may be implemented by a variety of key pads, buttons, a touch screeninput device, or any other suitable input device. When the display unit140 of the portable terminal 100 is provided as a full touch typedisplay device, the input unit 120 may include a side key formed at acase side of the portable terminal 100 that operates in conjunction withthe full touch type display device.

Particularly, under the control of a user, the input unit 120 of thepresent invention may generate an input signal for connecting to theserver apparatus 200, an input signal provided to the server apparatus200 in order to select particular content, an input signal fordesignating a reception of relevant content in a particularcommunication scheme (e.g. in a streaming scheme), etc. Also, under thecontrol of a user, the input unit 120 may generate an input signal forsetting the power reduction mode according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. The generated input signals may be provided tothe controller 160, and the controller 160 may control the portableterminal 100 so as to support a user function corresponding to theprovided input signal.

The audio processor 130 includes a speaker (SPK) for playing audio dataor signals transmitted and received during a call, audio data or signalsincluded in a received message, and audio data or signals according toplayback of audio files stored in the memory 150 or other similar audiodata and signals output by the portable terminal 100 through the speaker(SPK), and a microphone (MIC) for collecting a user's voice or otheraudio signals during the call or during operation of the portableterminal 100. The audio processor 130 may also output sound effectsassociated with the generation of an input signal for connecting to theserver apparatus 200 and an input signal for reception of data, andsupports the output of an audio signal included in the received data.Also, when the power reduction mode is set, the audio processor 130 mayoutput an alarm sound associated with the setting of the power reductionmode at a time point of performing the power reduction mode or duringoperation of a user function of the power reduction mode. For example,the audio processor 130 may output an alarm sound or a preset guidesound notifying the setting of the power reduction mode, in the processof downloading and outputting the content provided by the serverapparatus 200 according to a streaming scheme in a state where the powerreduction mode is set. The output of the alarm sound or the guide soundas described above may be omitted according to a user setting orpreference.

Meanwhile, when the portable terminal 100 is provided with a touchscreen, the display unit 140 may include a display panel (not shown) anda touch panel (not shown) disposed at a front surface of the displaypanel. The size of the display unit 140 may be determined by the size ofthe touch panel. The display panel displays information input by a useror information provided to the user as well as various menus of theportable terminal 100. The display panel may be a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD), an Organic Light Emitted Diode (OLED), an Active Matrix OLED(AMOLED) or any other suitable display type. Furthermore, the displaypanel may be disposed at an upper part or a lower part of the touchpanel, or may be disposed at any suitable location of the portableterminal 100.

Particularly, a display panel of the present invention may display datareceived by the RF communication unit 110. In this case, the data whichcorresponds to the particular contents provided by the server apparatus200 may include at least one of an audio signal and a video signal andmay be data stored in and retrieved from the buffer. The display panelmay include a frame buffer in order to output data, and thus the bufferfor storing the data received by the RF communication unit 110 to bedisplayed on the display unit 140 may be replaced by the frame buffer ofthe display panel. When a separate buffer for downloading data isincluded in the controller 160 or the like, the frame buffer of thedisplay panel may temporarily store data stored in and retrieved fromthe buffer before outputting the data to the display panel. Meanwhile,the display panel may provide a screen for operating the datacommunication channel in order to operate a touch panel, and at thistime, may provide a screen for setting and operating a power reductionmode.

The touch panel may generate a touch event according to a touch object(e.g. a touch of a user's finger or a stylus), and may provide a signalcorresponding to the generated touch event to the controller 160.Although not shown, sensors included in the touch panel may be arrangedin the form of a matrix, and information on a relevant position of atouch event generated by the touch panel and information on the type ofthe generated touch event may be provided to the controller 160.

The memory 150 may store a key map or a menu map for an operation of thedisplay unit 140 as well as application programs for various functionsand operations. In this case, the key map and the menu map may beimplemented in various forms similar to those described above withrespect to the input unit 120. Also, the menu map may allow forcontrolling the operations of application programs executed on theportable terminal 100. The memory 150 may store a power reduction modesupport program 151.

The power reduction mode support program 151 includes various routinesfor supporting the reducing of power consumption during the operation ofcommunication services described above. Namely, the power reduction modesupport program 151 may include a routine for managing a buffer, aroutine for detecting a RF environment, a routine for managing power, orother similar routines.

The routine for managing a buffer may include a subroutine foridentifying a state where data downloaded and delivered by the RFcommunication unit 110 is stored in a buffer, a subroutine forperforming a control operation so as to activate or deactivate the RFcommunication unit 110 according to an amount of data remaining in abuffer, and a subroutine for adjusting a size of a buffer for supportinga data communication channel according to a RF environment. Also, theroutine for managing a buffer may include at least one of a subroutinefor determining whether the power reduction mode is being executed, anda subroutine for adjusting a time period for activating or deactivatingthe RF communication unit 110 according to a RF environment when thepower reduction mode is being executed.

The subroutine for the determining of whether the power reduction modeis being executed collects RF environment determination informationincluding at least one of a reception strength of a RF signal, a datatransmission speed, and a bandwidth which have been collected by aroutine for collecting the RF environment determination information, andperforms a control operation for executing the power reduction modeaccording to the RF environment determination information satisfyingpreset conditions. In this case, the RF environment determinationinformation may be state information on at least one of the bandwidth ofa data communication channel, the data transmission speed, and thereception strength of the RF signal which are formed by the RFcommunication unit 110, and a type of a communication network used bythe RF communication unit 110. Therefore, when the preset conditions arenot satisfied, although the power reduction mode is set, the subroutinefor determining whether the power reduction mode is applied may cancelthe setting of the power reduction mode, i.e., stop executing the powerreduction mode, so as to operate the RF communication unit 110 in anormal mode.

For example, when the reception strength of the RF signal is equal to orless than a preset value or when a change in the data transmission speedoccurs by an amount equal to or greater than a predetermined value, thechange occurring a predetermined number of times during a preset timeperiod, or when a change in the bandwidth occurs by an amount equal toor greater than a predetermined value, the change occurring apredetermined number of times, the subroutine for the determining ofwhether the power reduction mode is executed may cancel, exit or stopexecuting the power reduction mode so as to perform control foroperating the RF communication unit 110 according to a normal modehaving a wake-up time period without having a separate dormant timeperiod.

In this case, for the wake-up time period, the RF communication unit 110transmits and/or receives data while maintaining a data communicationchannel between the portable terminal 100 and the server apparatus 200.Also, when the transmission and/or reception of data is deferred so asto be executed at a later time, the wake-up time period may be a timeperiod during which the RF communication unit 110 transmits and/orreceives a keep alive packet based on a particular message (e.g. HTTP)in order to maintain the data communication channel between the portableterminal 100 and the server apparatus 200. The wake-up time period mayhave a state where a predetermined amount of power is supplied to the RFcommunication unit 110 in order to maintain the data communicationchannel and transmit and/or receive a message.

Meanwhile, the dormant time period may be a time period for supportingthe stopping of an operation related to the transmission and/orreception of data by the RF communication unit 110. Additionally, thedormant time period may be a time period for temporarily cancelling thedata communication channel by stopping the operation of the RFcommunication unit 110. Accordingly, the dormant time period may have astate where a smaller amount of power is supplied to the RFcommunication unit 110 as compared to an amount of power supplied duringthe wake-up time period or may have a state where the power supplied tothe RF communication unit 110 is cut off.

The routine for the detecting of the RF environment as described abovedetects a data transmission speed, a bandwidth of a data communicationchannel, etc. of the data communication channel used by the RFcommunication unit 110. The detected data transmission speed maybe usedwhen a routine for managing a buffer is activated by being provided tothe controller 160. Also, the routine for the detecting of the RFenvironment may support the detection of channel characteristics, suchas the type of a network (i.e. a WiFi channel, a 3G communicationchannel, a 4G communication channel, or the like) of a communicationchannel used by the RF communication unit 110.

The routine for the managing of power provides a stable operation of theRF communication unit 110 by switching between paths for supplying powerfrom the power supply 170 according to whether the power reduction modeis being executed. To this end, the routine for the managing of powerincludes a subroutine for controlling a switch. The subroutine for thecontrolling of the switch controls a state of the switch 173 so as todeliver power from the power supply 170 to the RF communication unit 110through the stabilizer 171 when the RF communication unit 110 isoperated in the power reduction mode.

The stabilizer 171 stably supplies power while the power supply 170supplies power to the portable terminal 100. The stabilizer 171 mayinclude elements such as capacitors, diodes, resistors, amplifiers, andother similar electrical circuit elements. The stabilizer 171 may bufferan amount of power corresponding to a power level which is changed by avalue more than a predetermined value from among power supplied to theRF communication unit 110, and may reduce a power level change in theform of a pulse which may be generated when power is suppliedparticularly to the controller 160 or the RF communication unit 110.

More specifically, because the reducing of power among the communicationservice supports discriminates between a wake-up time period and adormant time period in operating the RF communication unit 110, when atime period related to the operation of the RF communication unit 110changes from a dormant time period to a wake-up time period, an amountof power supplied by the power supply 170 may temporarily and suddenlyincrease. Namely, when an operational state of the RF communication unit110, which may be in a state where functions, routines and operationsare stopped during the dormant time period, is changed to a signalprocessing state for downloading data from the server apparatus 200 andfor delivering the downloaded data to the buffer, a power of the powersupply 170 may be changed more suddenly than needed because circuitelements included in the RF communication unit 110 are simultaneouslyactivated.

Accordingly, during operation of the power reduction mode, in order tooperate the RF communication unit 110, the stabilizer 171 may beincluded in the portable terminal 100 so as to suppress a sudden changein power supplied to the controller 160. Thus, during the executing ofthe power reduction mode, the portable terminal 100 may provide a stablesupply of power, and thus an element load due to a change in a powerlevel of each element of the portable terminal 100 is reduced, and thus,a lifespan of each element may be increased.

Furthermore, although the present exemplary embodiment describes thestabilizer 171 as being disposed between the controller 160 and thepower supply 170, the present invention is not limited thereto, and thestabilizer 171 may be arranged between the RF communication unit 110 andthe power supply 170, or at any other suitable location of the portableterminal 100. Changes to a location of the stabilizer 171 may be madeaccording to a design of a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC)which converts power of the power supply 170 into power for operatingthe elements of the portable terminal 100 and supplies the convertedpower to elements of the portable terminal 100. Namely, when a PMIC isincluded in the controller 160, the stabilizer 171 stabilizes powersupplied to the RF communication unit 110 through the controller 160.When the PMIC is included in the power supply 170, the stabilizer 171may be directly connected to the RF communication unit 110, and maystabilize power supplied to the RF communication unit 110.

According to the location of the stabilizer 171, the switch 173 may bearranged between the power supply 170 and the controller 160 or betweenthe power supply 170 and the RF communication unit 110. The switch 173switches between paths of power supplied from the power supply 170, asdescribed above. Namely, when the portable terminal 100 supports acommunication service in the normal mode as described above, the switch173 provides a path for directly connecting at least one of thecontroller 160 and the RF communication unit 110 to the power supply 170without going through the stabilizer 171.

Also, when the portable terminal 100 supports a communication service inthe power reduction mode as described above, the switch 173 may form apath so that power of the power supply 170 goes through the stabilizer171 and is supplied to at least one of the controller 160 and the RFcommunication unit 110. Therefore, the portable terminal 100 providespower suitable for a situation by changing characteristics of thesupplied power according to whether the power reduction mode isexecuted. Meanwhile, the switch 173 may not be included in the portableterminal 100, and in such a case, the power supply 170 may supply powerthrough the stabilizer 171 during operation of the power reduction modeor the normal mode.

While controlling the supply of power for operating the elements of theportable terminal 100, the controller 160 may control a signal flow foroperating the power reduction mode with respect to each of the elements,wherein the initialization of the elements has been completed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controlleraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 160 may include a buffer 161, abuffer manager 163, a RF environment detector 165, and a power manager167. Also, although not required in all embodiments of the presentinvention, the controller 160 may further include a timer 169.

The buffer 161 temporarily stores data received by the RF communicationunit 110. The buffer 161 may be used to support various user functionsof the portable terminal 100, and in this case, a predetermined part ofthe buffer may be allocated for the support of a particular userfunction. The buffer 161 may also be an independent hardware element fora particular user function, or may be part of other hardware elementsused for storage of data. In the buffer 161, a size or amount of thebuffer for buffering data may be adjusted in order to support the powerreduction mode. However, the present invention is not limited thereto,and the buffer 161 may have a fixed size in order to support the powerreduction mode. Particularly, under the control of the buffer manager163, the buffer 161 may be allocated a size which may be changed forsupporting the functions of the RF communication unit 110 according to aRF environment of the RF communication unit 110. As described above, thebuffer 161 may be disposed in the RF communication unit 110, thecontroller 160, the display unit 140, or in any other suitable locationof the portable terminal 100.

The buffer manager 163 may adjust an allocated size of the buffer 161for downloading particular content, according to at least one of the RFenvironment and a characteristic of part of the data corresponding tothe content which is received by the portable terminal 100. For example,when a change range of a network occurs, the buffer manager 163 mayadjust the allocated size of the buffer 161 in order to execute thepower reduction mode. Also, the buffer manager 163 may adjust a timepoint of requesting a downloading of data to be stored in the buffer161. As such, the buffer manager 163 performs a control operation forreceiving the part of the data of the particular content for apredetermined time period and storing the received partial data in thebuffer 161.

As the received partial data stored in the buffer 161 is provided to thedisplay unit 140 so as to be displayed, an amount of data stored in thebuffer 161 decreases. Accordingly, the buffer manager 163 may adjust atime point (i.e. a time point of requesting the retransmission of datafor buffering) for the downloading of different parts of the data of theparticular content according to at least one of the amount of dataremaining in the buffer 161 and a RF environment. For example, when abandwidth used by the RF communication unit 110 is decreasing, thebuffer manager 163 may increase a reference size of an amount ofremaining data for a request for retransmitting data so that an amountof time for a cycle of again filling the buffer 161 is short. Otherwise,when the bandwidth has a value which is equal to or greater than apredetermined value, or when the bandwidth is increasing, the buffermanager 163 may reduce the reference size of the amount of remainingdata for a request for retransmitting data so that an amount of time forthe cycle of again filling the buffer 161 is long. Accordingly, thebuffer manager 163 may manage a time point of receiving data so as toseamlessly perform a streaming service according to a RF environment ofa network.

After the buffer manager 163 monitors a time period until the portableterminal 100 enters an actual dormant time period after the portableterminal 100 enters an “Idle” state, the buffer manager 163 may adjust asize of the buffered data while establishing a data communicationchannel based on relevant information. Namely, as the time periodbecomes longer, the buffer manager 163 increases an allocated size ofthe buffer 161 so as to increase an amount of buffered data for thedormant time period. Additionally, when another user function of theportable terminal 100 is activated although the RF communication unit110 during a dormant time period, the buffer manager 163 may activatethe RF communication unit 110 so as to receive data of a predeterminedsize following data which has previously been received from the serverapparatus 200 and is buffered.

Additionally, the buffer manager 163 may suppress entrance into orprevent execution of the power reduction mode according to the RFenvironment determination information. Also, the buffer manager 163 mayoperate the timer 169 so as to prevent a change to the power reductionmode and a change to the normal mode. For example, when a change fromthe power reduction mode to the normal mode, or vice versa, occurs, thebuffer manager 163 drives the timer 169. Furthermore, when a change ofthe power reduction mode or the normal mode occurs a predeterminednumber of times in a predetermined time period, the buffer manager 163may perform a control operation for maintaining a particular mode.

Namely, when the RF environment determination information is determinedto have a predetermined value, for which a change to the normal modeshould occur, when in the power reduction mode, the buffer manager 163may drive the timer 169 together with the change to the normal mode.Then, if a change to the power reduction mode should occur according tothe RF environment determination information, and then, if a change tothe RF environment determination information indicating that a change tothe normal mode occurs a predetermined number of times or more beforethe operation of the timer 169 is completed, i.e., before the timer 169expires, the buffer manager 163 may maintain the normal mode for apredetermined time period in order to subsequently maintain the powerreduction mode for a predetermined time period after the change to thepower reduction mode. Also, the buffer manager 163 may provide the abovedescribed operations and functions for driving the timer 169 after achange from the normal mode to the power reduction mode.

Also, in order to support the power reduction mode according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the buffer manager 163may adjust an allocated size of the buffer 161 allocated for receivingdata, a reference size of the amount of remaining data forretransmitting data, or other similar characteristics of the buffer 161,according to the RF environment and data characteristics. Morespecifically, the buffer manager 163 may collect network characteristicinformation detected by the RF environment detector 165, and may predicta bandwidth of a data communication channel established by the RFcommunication unit 110 by using the collected network characteristicinformation.

Particularly, the buffer manager 163 may predict a RF environment (i.e.a bandwidth of a data communication channel) of data to be subsequentlydownloaded, based on the network characteristic information detected bythe RF environment detector 165, where the network characteristicinformation may include link speed information (Link Speed), a busy rate(Busy Rate) corresponding to a usable time period of a shared radiofrequency link, and a packet error rate (Packet Error Rate). In such acase, the link speed information may be received from a relevant networkand identified in a hand-off process of the portable terminal 100, and abusy rate may be identified through identifying a link layer of thenetwork. Also, the packet error rate may be identified for an IP layerof the data communication channel. A prediction of the bandwidth of thedata communication channel, which is based on the network characteristicinformation as described above, is defined by Equation (1) below.Predictionbandwidth=Link_Speed×(1−Busy_Rate)×(1−Packet_Error_Rate)  [Equation 1]

By calculating a prediction bandwidth of the data communication channelas described above, the buffer manager 163 may predict a speed at whicha subsequent part of the data is to be received after having alreadyreceived a preceding part of the data from among the particularcontents. Therefore, the buffer manager 163 may determine an allocatedsize of the buffer 161 for the subsequent part of the data to bereceived based on the calculated prediction bandwidth.

Also, the buffer manager 163 may determine a reference size for theamount of remaining data based on the calculated prediction bandwidth.Namely, when a prediction bandwidth is equal to or greater than a presetvalue, the buffer manager 163 predicts that the partial data to besubsequently received may be more rapidly received, and may determine areference size of the amount of remaining data, which is used todetermine a time point of requesting the retransmission of data, to besmall. Therefore, when a relatively small amount of data remains in thebuffer 161, the buffer manager 163 performs a control operation so thatthe RF communication unit 110 has a wake-up time period for theretransmission of data. As a result, the buffer manager 163 keeps adormant time period to be longer, and may increase a reduction range ofcurrent power consumption for operating the RF communication unit 110.

Also, when a prediction bandwidth is equal to or less than a presetvalue, the buffer manager 163 may determine a reference size for theamount of remaining data to be large and so as to have a relativelyshort cycle of requesting the retransmission of data. At this time, whenthe prediction bandwidth is equal to or less than the particular value,the buffer manager 163 may cancel the setting of a power reduction modeso as to operate the RF communication unit 110 in a normal mode in orderto allow for the downloading of the data without having a dormant timeperiod.

According to characteristics of data, the buffer manager 163 may adjustan allocated size of the buffer 161 for receiving the relevant data anda reference size for the amount of remaining data for the retransmissionof data. More specifically, although an amount of data has a same sizeas that of different data in a Variable Bit Rate (VBR)-based datastreaming scheme, there may be different transmission cycles (ordurations) for outputting a complete image corresponding to theVBR-based data. Namely, when I, P and B-frames, which construct animage, exist, data of a relatively large size may be configured by usingan I-frame as compared with a P-frame or a B-frame, and data of arelatively large size may be configured by using a P-frame as comparedwith a B-frame. Also, the I, P and B-frames as described above may bechanged respectively as per the size of data according tocharacteristics of image elements which construct a scene.

Therefore, in a particular streaming scheme, a cycle range for datawhich is to be transmitted in order to output a complete image through adisplay unit may be changed according to characteristics of the datawhich is to be transmitted. At this time, a transmission order oftransmitting the I, P and B-frames as described above may be determinedaccording to predetermined rules. Therefore, the buffer manager 163 mayidentify characteristics of data to be subsequently received byidentifying history information of data stored in the buffer 161. Forexample, data of a predetermined size which is to be transmitted may bechanged according to characteristics of the particular contents. Namely,because news content has a monotonous configuration of a scene and asmall amount of motion information, an amount of data required toreproduce the news content for a predetermined time period may besmaller than sports content.

Also, because the sports content has a complicated configuration of ascene and a large amount of motion information, the amount of data forreproducing the sports content for a predetermined time period may berelatively large. Therefore, according to the characteristics of theparticular contents, the buffer manager 163 may adjust an allocated sizeof the buffer 161 for receiving a part of the data of the particularcontent. Namely, in order to secure a dormant time period which issuitable, the buffer manager 163 may set a smaller allocated size of thebuffer 161 for receiving news content than an allocated size of thebuffer 161 for receiving sports content, or vice versa. As describedabove, an allocated size of the buffer 161 may be adjusted according toa RF environment and characteristics of a particular contents. However,the present invention is not limited thereto, and the allocated size ofthe buffer 161 may be adjusted according to other relevant datatransmission and reception characteristics of the portable terminal 100.

Meanwhile, when the allocated size of the buffer 161 is changedaccording to a change in the RF environment, the buffer manager 163 mayidentify an allocated size of the buffer 161 so as to execute the powerreduction mode when the allocated size of the buffer 161 is equal to orgreater than a predetermined size. More specifically, when entry into adormant time period is determined, the buffer manager 163 may executethe power reduction mode if a time cycle of data buffered in the buffer161 is larger than at least one of a predetermined time period duringwhich the dormant time period is changed to a wake-up time period,another predetermined time period during which the wake-up time periodis changed to the dormant time period, and a preset dormant time period.Namely, the buffer manager 165 may determine the execution of a powerreduction mode where a dormant time period is operated when a sum of atime period used for a mode change and a smallest dormant time periodused to reduce current power consumption is larger than a total timecycle of the buffered data.

Also, the buffer manager 163 may stop the execution of the powerreduction mode so as to operate the RF communication unit 110 in thenormal mode when the sum of the time period used for the mode change andthe smallest dormant time period used to reduce power currentconsumption is less than the total time cycle of buffered data. In thiscase, the time period used for the mode change is independent accordingto characteristics of a network. Therefore, the buffer manager 163 maymonitor a time period during which an “Idle” state is changed to a“dormant” state in a particular network, and may collect valuesresulting from the monitoring in order to use the collected values forthe execution of the power reduction mode as described above. In thiscase, when a dormant time period of the RF communication unit 110becomes long, “underflow” may occur. Therefore, the buffer manager 163may determine a suitable allocated size of the buffer 161 inconsideration of a RF environment (i.e. the size of a predictionbandwidth of a network) and characteristics of downloaded content (i.e.a bit rate of an image) and also, may determine a reference size for theamount of remaining data in order to determine a suitable time point ofretransmitting data.

The RF environment detector 165 detects a RF environment of the portableterminal 100 in order to manage the buffer 161 via the buffer manager163. The RF environment detector 165 may detect the size of allocatedbandwidth in order to support data communication. The RF environmentdetector may also detect a speed of transmitting data when in a state ofestablishing a data communication channel so as to enable theconfiguration of determination information. Also, the RF environmentdetector 165 may provide the configured determination information to thebuffer manager 163. Furthermore, the RF environment detector 165 mayprovide the configured determination information to the power manager167. In this case, the determination information may include thereception strength of a RF signal or the type of a communication networkused by the portable terminal 100, or other similar information whichmay further characterize a RF environment.

The power manager 167 identifies whether the portable terminal 100 isexecuting a power reduction mode or a normal mode. Also, when theportable terminal 100 is executing the normal mode, the power manager167 may control the switch 173 so that a path of power supplied from thepower supply 170 does not proceed through the stabilizer 171.Furthermore, when the portable terminal 100 is executing the powerreduction mode, the power manager 167 may control the switch 173 so thata path of power supplied from the power supply 170 proceeds through thestabilizer 171. Therefore, the power manager 167 controls the switch 193in order to supply a more stable power to elements of the portableterminal 100 through the stabilizer 171 in the power reduction mode.

As described above, the timer 169 may be configured to prevent a changeto the power reduction mode and a change to the normal mode underpredetermined conditions in which such a change is undesirable. When achange to a particular mode occurs according to the control of thebuffer manager 163, the timer 169 may be activated.

Meanwhile, when data is not buffered in the buffer 161, i.e. when the RFcommunication unit 110 does not receive a part of the data of theparticular contents, the buffer manager 163 may control the RFcommunication unit 110 so as to complete the existing connection to theserver apparatus 200, or other similar electronic communications device,so as to attempt a new connection with the server apparatus 200 or theother similar electronic communications device. When the RFcommunication unit 110 establishes a data communication channel with theserver apparatus 200, a bandwidth or a data transmission speed of theestablished data communication channel may be reduced according towhether another user uses the established data communication channel, achange in a RF environment, or other similar factors.

Also, data may not be received through a previously connected datacommunication channel when in a particular state, and, at this time, thebuffer manager 163 may identify, by using the timer 169, a predeterminedtime period during which the buffer 161 may not perform data buffering.When the predetermined time period expires, the buffer manager 163 maycancel or terminate the channel previously used for data communicationand establish a new data communication channel. As a result, the buffermanager 163 may provide a good reproduction of content by managing achange in a data communication channel in order to suitably receivedata.

Also, the buffer manager 163 may be used to provide a better datacommunication channel in which a dormant time period may be secured,such that a power reduction mode may be executed. In this case, whencertain data is not received within a predetermined time period from atime point of making a request for retransmitting the certain data tothe server apparatus 200, the buffer manager 163 may establish a newdata communication channel without identifying the data buffered in thebuffer 161. When the new data communication channel is established, thebuffer manager 163 configures information used to receive differentparts of the data following the part of the data previously receivedfrom among the particular contents, and may transmit the configuredinformation to the server apparatus 200. Then, the server apparatus 200may enable the transmission of data following the previously receivedpart of the data.

FIG. 4 illustrates operation of a buffer according to an execution of apower reduction mode among communication service supports according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, after the RF communication unit 110 establishes adata communication channel with the server apparatus 200, when the RFcommunication unit 110 downloads content provided by the serverapparatus 200 according to a streaming scheme under the control of thecontroller 160, the RF communication unit 110 may download first partialdata 1 to 100 from among the contents from the server apparatus 200during time period A. At this time, after the buffer 161 downloads andbuffers the first partial data 1 to 100, and completes the reception offirst partial data 1 to 100 in the time period A, the buffer 161 maymaintain the first partial data 1 to 100 in the buffer 161 for the timeperiod A as well as for time periods B and C. The portable terminal 100may provide the data stored in the buffer 161 to at least one of thedisplay unit 140 and the audio processor 130 after a time point when thefirst partial data 1 to 100 is buffered in the buffer 161, and mayreproduce first partial data 1 to 100 via the display unit 140 or theaudio processor 130.

In the above described operations, the controller 160 may operate the RFcommunication unit 110 for downloading content for the time period A asan initiation time period, which is also a wake-up time period. Then,the controller 160 may operate the RF communication unit 110 for timeperiod B as a dormant time period after a time point of completing thedownloading of first partial data 1 to 100 in time period A. For thisdormant time period, the controller 160 may temporarily cancel acommunication channel established between the RF communication unit 110and the server apparatus 200. For the time period B, power used tooperate the RF communication unit 110 is stopped or a smaller amount ofpower is supplied to the RF communication unit 110 than supplied duringthe time period A or C.

Next, when buffered data stored in the buffer 161 is exhausted by outputprocessing of the data, i.e. the controller 160 reproduces the data viathe display unit 140 or the audio processor 130, and an amount ofremaining data is equal to or less than a predetermined amount of data,the controller 160 may activate the RF communication unit 110 for thetime period C so as to perform signal processing for downloading secondpartial data 101 to 200, which follows the first partial data 1 to 100.For example, when the amount of data remaining in the buffer 161 isequal to the amount of remaining data 60 to 100, as shown in time periodC in FIG. 4, the controller 160 may activate the RF communication unit110 in order to download the second partial data 101 to 200 during timeperiod C. At this time, the controller 160 may successively store thesecond partial data 101 to 200, which is downloaded, in the buffer 161in which first partial data 1 to 100 is stored and partly exhausted. Inthis manner, the controller 160 provides support so as to operate awake-up time period of the RF communication unit 110 according to theamount of remaining data stored in the buffer 161 and so as to make arequest for transmitting additional data to server apparatus 200. Whenthe downloading of the additional data is completed, the controller 160may operate the RF communication unit 110 for a dormant time period.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, although the description has beenmade by designating the amount of data remaining in the buffer 161 asbeing the remaining data 60 to 100 of the first partial data 1 to 100,remaining data 160 to 200 of the second partial data 101 to 200, andremaining data 260 to 300 of third partial data 201 to 300, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. Namely, the amount of remaining dataserving as a time point of requesting the retransmission of data forbuffering may be changed according to a change in a RF environment orother similar factors, as discussed above. Also, an allocated size ofthe buffer may be adjusted according to a change in the RF environmentand the characteristics of the data which is transmitted. In short, anallocated size of a buffer corresponding to time periods A, B, and C, asdescribed above, and a reference size of the amount of the remainingdata in the buffer 161 during the time period C may be adjustedaccording to a change in a RF environment and characteristics of theconfiguration of an image of data which is transmitted. Also, when theRF environment determination information has a value equal to or lessthan a predetermined value, the controller 160 may cancel the executionof the power reduction mode and may operate the RF communication unit110 in a normal mode having a wake-up time period without having adormant time period.

As described above, during operation of a communication service, theportable terminal 100 may temporarily and repeatedly deactivate theoperation of the RF communication unit 110 according to the amount ofremaining data stored in the buffer 161. As such, the portable terminal100 may reduce power consumption for operating the RF communication unit110. Also, the portable terminal 100 variably adjusts the allocated sizeof the buffer 161, which may be allocated according to a change in a RFenvironment so as to secure a more efficient dormant time period of theRF communication unit 110. Namely, the portable terminal 100 mayadaptively operate the buffer 161 according to a change in the RFenvironment and so as to provide a suitable dormant time period for theRF environment.

Hereinabove, the exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the operations and functions of element of the portableterminal 100 for supporting a power reduction mode, among thecommunication service supports. Hereinafter, a method for operating theportable terminal for reducing power among the communication servicesupports will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a portableterminal so as to reduce power during support of a communication serviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when power is supplied from the power supply 170,the controller 160 may initialize each element of the portable terminal100 by using the supplied power so as to display a standby screen on thedisplay unit 140 according to preset schedule information in step 501.

Next, in step 503, when an input signal is generated from the input unit120 or the display unit 140 employing a touch screen, the controller 160may identify whether the generated input signal is an input signal forestablishing a data communication channel. When the generated inputsignal is not an input signal for establishing a data communicationchannel, the controller 160 may perform a function corresponding to thegenerated input signal (e.g. a phone call function, a file searchfunction, a web access function, an image collection function, abroadcast reception function, or other similar functions) in step 505.

In a case where the generated input signal is an input signal forestablishing a data communication channel, then in step 507, thecontroller 160 determines whether a power reduction mode is set. Namely,the controller 160 identifies whether a setting or an input signal forexecuting the power reduction mode is activated with respect tooperating the data communication channel of the portable terminal 100.In order to execute the power reduction mode, a user may generate theinput signal for setting the power reduction mode in a configurationmenu of the portable terminal 100, or in any other suitable screendisplayed on the display unit 140 of the portable terminal 100.Alternatively, when the portable terminal 100 supports the powerreduction mode as a default configuration, step 507 may be omitted. Whenit is determined, at step 507, that the power reduction mode is not setto be executed, the controller 160 may receive data in a normal mode andprovide the received data to the display unit 140 or the audio processor130 in step 509.

When the power reduction mode is determined to be set in step 507, then,in step 511, the controller 160 may determine a RF environment. Namely,the controller 160 identifies or acquires RF environment determinationinformation including at least one of a size of a bandwidth, a speed oftransmitting data, a type of a network used for the data communicationchannel, a reception strength of a RF signal, and other similarinformation which the RF communication unit 110 acquires whenestablishing and maintaining the data communication channel. The RFenvironment determination information may be acquired according tosignals, information, and data transmitted and/or received when the datacommunication channel is established between the server apparatus 200and the portable terminal 100.

When the acquiring of the RF environment determination information iscompleted, then in step 513, the controller 160 determines whether apower reduction mode can be executed according to the RF environmentdetermination information. Namely, the controller 160 may determinewhether a present state of a RF environment is good enough to enable theoperation of the power reduction mode. At this time, the controller 160may determine whether at least one of elements included in the RFenvironment determination information is equal to, greater than, or lessthan a predetermined value in order to determine whether the powerreduction mode is executed or not executed, as described above withreference to FIGS. 1-4. When the controller 160 determines thatexecution of the power reduction is not possible in step 513, then thecontroller 160 may support the reception of data in a normal mode whichis not allocated a dormant time period in step 509.

When the controller determines that execution of the power reductionmode is possible in step 513, then the controller 160 may set andexecute the power reduction mode according to the RF environment in step515). For example, when a size of a bandwidth is equal to or smallerthan a set value or when it has a tendency toward decreasing, thecontroller 160 may adjust a reference size of the amount of remainingdata serving as a time point of requesting the retransmission of datafor buffering so as to cause the reference size of the amount ofremaining data to be small. Also, when the size of a bandwidth has atendency toward increasing, the controller 160 may adjust the referencesize of the amount of remaining data so as to cause the reference sizeof the amount of remaining data to be small. In this case, when therange of change of the determination information (e.g. the range ofchange of a bandwidth) is equal to or larger than a preset value, orwhen the value of a particular element of the determination informationis equal to or smaller than a particular value, the controller 160 mayadjust the size of the buffer 161 allocated for receiving partial dataamong contents to be downloaded, so as to cause the size of the buffer161 to be to be relatively large. As described above, the controller 160may perform a control operation so as to increase the amount of datastored in the buffer 161 in the process of operating the reduction mode,and so as to secure a suitable dormant time period.

Next, in step 517, the controller 160 identifies generation of an inputsignal for cancelling the data communication channel with the serverapparatus 200. When the input signal for the cancelling of the datacommunication channel is generated, the controller 160 may proceed to astart of the method illustrated in FIG. 5 so as to repeatedly performsteps illustrated in FIG. 5. Meanwhile, when a result of theidentification at step 517 shows that an input signal for cancelling thedata communication channel is not generated, the controller 160 proceedsto step 507.

As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the controller 160 operatesthe timer 169. By using the timer 169, the controller 160 determines anumber of times of a change to the power reduction mode and a number oftimes of a change to a normal mode, with respect to a predetermined timeperiod. When the respective number of times of a change is equal to thepreset number, the controller 160 may maintain either of the powerreduction mode or the normal mode for a predetermined period of time,which may be determined according to a designer or a setting by a userof the portable terminal 100.

When a variation of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) isgreater than a preset value during operation of the timer 169, thecontroller 160 may stop executing the power reduction mode and mayperform a data communication service according to the normal mode forthe predetermined time. If the predetermined time lapses, the controller160 determines the RSSI and may execute the power reduction modeaccording to the determined RSSI. The controller 160 may increase anallocated size of the buffer 161 for receiving a part of the data of thecontents when a size of data used for a scene arrangement by thecontents is a large amount, and the controller 160 may reduce theallocated size of the buffer 161 when the size of data used for a scenearrangement by the contents is a small amount.

The controller 160 may increase a reference size of a residual dataamount when the size of data used for a scene arrangement by thecontents is a large amount. The controller 160 may reduce the referencesize of the residual data amount when the size of data used for a scenearrangement by the contents is a small amount. Furthermore, thecontroller 160 collects time period information of data buffered in thebuffer 161 and also collects mode change time information when an idlestate of the RF communication unit 110 is changed to an idle time.Furthermore, as noted above with respect to FIG. 3, the controller 160determines the allocated size of the buffer 161 when the RFcommunication unit 110 is operated in the power reduction mode and whena sum of the mode change time information and predetermined minimum idletime information is greater than the time period information of thebuffered data. Additionally, the controller 160 operates the RFcommunication unit in a normal mode without an idle time when the sum ofthe mode change time information and predetermined minimum idle timeinformation is less than the time period information of the buffereddata.

Furthermore, and as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, thecontroller 160 may control the portable terminal 100 to form a powersupply path including the stabilizer 171 during execution of thereduction mode, and may form a power supply path including or notincluding the stabilizer 171 during an operation of a normal mode.Accordingly, the controller 160 may buffer a power supply while the idletime is changed to an activation time so as to provide a stable powersupply. Furthermore, the controller 160 selects a data communicationchannel such that the portable terminal 100 has a suitable idle time forexecuting the power reduction mode. That is, when a part of the datanecessary for playback of contents received through a currently formeddata communication channel is not received in a normal manner or thecurrent data communication channel does not have RF environmentcharacteristics capable of supporting the power reduction mode, thecontroller 160 may release a current data communication channel in orderto form a new data communication channel.

To form the new data communication channel having RF environmentalcharacteristics capable of applying the power reduction mode, thecontroller 160 may form a new data communication channel with the serverapparatus 200 or an electronic communication device. To do this, thecontroller 160 determines RF environmental characteristics of a datacommunication channel formed through the RF communication unit 110, forexample, a bandwidth or a transmission speed, and may form the new datacommunication channel having RF environmental characteristic valuesgreater than predetermined values. In this case, the predeterminedvalues corresponding to the RF environmental characteristic values ofthe data communication channel may be value set for executing the powerreduction mode.

The controller 160 may repeatedly release and form a data communicationchannel a predetermined number of times in order to select a suitabledata communication channel for executing the power reduction mode. Whenthe formation of the data communication channel for executing the powerreduction mode occurs for a number of times greater than thepredetermined number of times, the controller 160 determines that thepower reduction mode is not executable. After formation of the datacommunication channel, a normal mode is executed for a predeterminedtime period based on a corresponding data communication channel in orderto play contents received from the server device 200. After thepredetermined time period lapses, the controller 160 may again attemptformation of a data communication channel to which the power reductionmode is applicable. In this case, the controller 160 may form a newcommunication channel when data are not received. Furthermore, in theabove case the timer 169 is driven so as to not receive data for apredetermined time such that the procedure for forming a newcommunication channel may be performed. Through this procedure, thecontroller 160 may form a data communication channel capable ofexecuting the power reduction mode.

In a method for reducing power of the portable terminal 100 according toan embodiment of the present invention, a RF communication unit 110 maysecure a suitable idle time, or in other words, a dormant time period,during support of a data communication service, particularly, a datacommunication service according to a streaming scheme in order to reducepower consumption. In this case, an operating method of the portableterminal 100 controls a size of a buffer 161 allocated for receivingcontents according to a RF environment so as to secure an idle time.Furthermore, the method may determine execution of the power reductionmode according to RF environmental characteristics so as to efficientlyoperate the RF communication unit 110, and restrain unnecessary signalprocessing and power consumption due to frequency generation of modechange.

The portable terminal 100 of the exemplary embodiments may furtherinclude various additional modules, such as a camera module forphotographing still images/moving images of a subject, an interfaceexchanging data in a wired communication scheme or a wirelesscommunication scheme of the portable terminal 100, an Internetcommunication module communicating with an Internet to perform anInternet function, and a digital broadcasting module receiving andbroadcasting digital broadcasting, or other similar modules included inmobile terminal and portable electronic devices. Furthermore, theportable 100 includes elements and items that may be substituted byspecific constructions in the foregoing arrangements according to theprovided form or another suitable structure, as can be easily understoodto those skilled in the present art.

Furthermore, the portable terminal 100 may include various types ofdevice having a communication module for supporting a data communicationservice. For example, the portable terminal 100 may include aninformation communication device and a multimedia device such as aPortable Multimedia Player (PMP), a digital broadcasting player, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a music player (e.g., MP3 player), aportable game terminal, a Smart Phone, a notebook computer, and ahandheld PC as well as various mobile communication terminalscorresponding to various communication systems.

As described above, according to a method for operating a portableterminal so as to reduce power consumption during the support ofcommunication services and a portable terminal supporting the same, anactual time point of operating the portable terminal is defined in acommunication environment so that the supply of power used to operatethe portable terminal can be reduced. Also, the operation of theportable terminal suitable for the communication environment iscontrolled so that the power consumed by the portable terminal may bereduced so as to increase an amount of time during which a consumer usesthe portable terminal in a limited power supply environment.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: activating a communicationunit; downloading at least a part of content via the communication unitduring an activation time; buffering the part of content in a buffer soas to present the part of content to a user; and entering an idle timeto terminate or reduce a power supply of the communication unit based onat least one of a characteristic value of data buffered in the bufferand environmental information associated with the communication unit,wherein duration of at least one of the activation time and the idletime are adjusted based on at least one of the characteristic value ofdata buffered in the buffer and the environmental information.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the characteristic value identifies an amountof data in the buffer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thecharacteristic value comprises at least one of data size, data type, abit rate of data and a reference size for the data in the buffer.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the environmental information comprises atleast one of state information of a bandwidth of a data communicationchannel formed by the communication unit, a data transmission speed, aReceived Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of a radio frequency signal,and a type of a network used by the communication unit.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: entering the activation time when thecharacteristic value is less than a specified value.
 6. A methodcomprising: activating a communication unit; downloading at least a partof content via the communication unit during an activation time;buffering the part of content in a buffer so as to present the part ofcontent to a user; entering an idle time to terminate or reduce a powersupply of the communication unit based on at least one of acharacteristic value of data buffered in the buffer and environmentalinformation associated with the communication unit, and controlling asize of the buffer based on at least one of the characteristic value andthe environmental information, wherein the controlling of the size ofthe buffer comprises adjusting the size of the buffer based on at leastthe environmental information.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: requesting an additional part of the content to bedownloaded, based on a specified condition.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: controlling the specified condition based on atleast one of a characteristic value and the environmental information.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling of the specifiedcondition comprises: decreasing a value of the specified condition whena value of the environmental information is greater than a specifiedvalue or when the value of the environmental information is increasing.10. The method of claim 7, wherein the specified condition is athreshold amount of data in the buffer for requesting the additionalpart of the content.
 11. An electronic device comprising: acommunication unit; a buffer; and a controller configured to: activatethe communication unit; download at least a part of content via thecommunication unit during an activation time; buffer the part of contentin the buffer so as to present the part of content to a user; and enteran idle time to terminate or reduce a power supply of the communicationunit based on at least one of a characteristic value of data buffered inthe buffer and environmental information associated with thecommunication unit, wherein duration of at least one of the activationtime and the idle time are adjusted based on at least one of thecharacteristic value of data buffered in the buffer and theenvironmental information.
 12. The electronic device of claim 11,wherein the controller is further configured to restart or increase thepower supply to the communication unit to enter the activation time whenthe characteristic value of the data buffered in the buffer is less thana specified value.
 13. The electronic device of claim 11, furthercomprising a stabilizer configured to buffer power supply to thecommunication unit while the communication unit changes from the idletime to the activation time.
 14. The electronic device of claim 13,further comprising a switch unit configured to switch a power path tosupply power to the communication unit through the stabilizer during theidle time.
 15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controlleris further configured to enter the activation time when a ReceivedSignal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is less than a specified RSSI value orwhen variation of the RSSI is greater than a specified variation width.16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: determine a number occurrences of at least one ofentering the activation time from the idle time and entering the idletime from the activation time during a specified period; and maintainthe idle time or the activation time for another specified period whenthe number of occurrences is greater than a specified value.
 17. Anelectronic device comprising: a communication unit; a buffer; and acontroller configured to: activate the communication unit; download atleast a part of content via the communication unit during an activationtime; buffer the part of content in the buffer so as to present the partof content to a user; enter an idle time to terminate or reduce a powersupply of the communication unit based on at least one of acharacteristic value of data buffered in the buffer and environmentalinformation associated with the communication unit; release a currentlyformed data communication channel when the communication unit does notreceive data; and form a new data communication channel.
 18. Anon-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructionsthat, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor to perform the method of claim
 1. 19. A method comprising:activating a communication unit; downloading at least a part of contentvia the communication unit during an activation time; buffering the partof content in a buffer so as to present the part of content to a user;entering an idle time to terminate or reduce a power supply of thecommunication unit based on at least one of a characteristic value ofdata buffered in the buffer and environmental information associatedwith the communication unit, releasing a currently formed datacommunication channel when data is not receive, and forming a new datacommunication channel.
 20. An electronic device comprising: acommunication unit; a buffer; and a controller configured to: activatethe communication unit; download at least a part of content via thecommunication unit during an activation time; buffer the part of contentin the buffer so as to present the part of content to a user; enter anidle time to terminate or reduce a power supply of the communicationunit based on at least one of a characteristic value of data buffered inthe buffer and environmental information associated with thecommunication unit, and control a size of the buffer based on at leastone of the characteristic value and the environmental information,wherein the controlling of the size of the buffer comprises adjustingthe size of the buffer based on at least the environmental information.21. A method comprising: activating a communication unit; downloading atleast a part of content via the communication unit during an activationtime; buffering the part of content in a buffer so as to present thepart of content to a user; and entering an idle time to terminate orreduce a power supply of the communication unit based on environmentalinformation associated with the communication unit, wherein theenvironmental information comprises at least one of state information ofa bandwidth of a data communication channel formed by the communicationunit, a data transmission speed, a Received Signal Strength Indication(RSSI) of a radio frequency signal, and a type of a network used by thecommunication unit.